Clothes washing device



Feb. 27, 1968 A. M. LAJZA CLOTHES WASHING DEVICE Filed Aug. 23, 1965ANTH NY M. LAJ

BY M75 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,370,445 CLOTHES WASHENG DEVICEAnthony M. Lajza, 28480 Kathryn, Garden City, Mich. 48135 Filed Aug. 23,1965, filer. No. 481,489 Claims. ((31. 68-215) ABSTRACT OF THEDTSCLQSURE The application discloses an improvement in a manuallyactuable clothes washing implement, comprising a hand operated plungerrod fixedly connected to a bulbous, elastically deformable washer head.This head has an upper portion of conical cross-section connected to therod, and a lower portion at which a turbulizing and suction action isexerted on the clothing and water in which they are immersed.

The lower portion of the head has externally ribbed bottom openings andunribbed side openings for the above mentioned compound action; and thenatural stability and strength of the upper conical head portion areaugmented by an annular, outwardly projecting and thickened rim or beadformation in the annular zone where the two portions merge.

The present invention relates to an improved, manually Operated deviceof a very compact and inexpensive nature for the washing of clothing.More particularly, the operation of the device involves a plunger ordasher action of a novel washer head on a limited charge of clothes in abucket or like small container of soapy or detergent liquid. Thus thedevice is used to particular advantage in a camp or similar localityremote from power conveniences, or when the quantity of garments to bewashed does not warrant the use of a conventional power operatedmachine.

It is an object of the invention to provide a manually operated, plungertype washing device of this character which is capable of thoroughlquickly and with little exertion washing many different (though usuallysmall) articles of everyday clothing or other fabrics, such as towels,diapers, handkerchiefs, socks and the like. The device is in the form ofa hollow washer head of elastically deformable material; and provisionis made for the attachment to one axial end of such head, of anappropriate operating rod or handle, by which a vertical and axial, backand forth action is exerted on clothing, as immersed in washing liquidin a relatively small size container.

The construction of the head is such as to set up, following an initialpurging of air from its interior through certain flushing ports, avacuum and positive pressure responsive flow and counterflow of thecleansing liquid through these and other ports, and in oppositedirections through the interstices of the fabrics, as the interior ofthe head is alternately pressurized and de-pressurized.

More specifically, the hollow washer head of the improved device is of arounded and bulbous outline which is symmetric about its upright axis,being provided on a transverse wall thereof remote from the operatingrod with a considerable number of liquid inflow and outflow openings orports, through which the cleaning solution flows as the device isoperated in vertical reciprocation.

Further in accordance with the invention, the edge of the openings orports referred to is preferably bounded by an annular head or rim ofmaterial integrally projecting outwardly of the wall in question. Theserims or beads act as external gaskets to insure a better liquid suctionaction through the clothing, and not a dissipation of that action alongthe outer surface of the apertured ice head wall; and they aflford agripping effect on the clothing simulating that exerted by the tentacleof an octopus.

Still further in accordance with the invention, the head is provided, inan annular side zone surrounding the wall area of the beaded or rimmedopenings referred to, with a series of circumferentially spaced airpurging and liquid flushing openings, which are specially shaped toextend laterally outwardly and to some extent around the side wall ofthe head and toward its operating plunger rod. The last named openingsmake it possible to purge the interior of the washer head of air, savefor some small residual air volume in its zone, in the first few strokesof operation of the device, after which washing continues under areversing liquid fioW and counterfiow through both the rimmed andflushing openings. A washing cycle of, say, three to five minutesduration sufiices for the thorough cleansing of the clothing.

The foregoing as well as other objects will become more apparent as thisdescription proceeds, especially when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing illustrating theinvention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the improved washing device;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view from the bottom end of one of the twoelastically deformable members of the device, i.e., the cupped andported bottom member;

FIG. 3 is an opposite end view from the top of the other or belled topcomponent; and

FIG. 4 is a view in axial section along a line corresponding to the line4-4 of FIG. 2, further illustrating structural details of the improveddevice, and indicating in solid and dot-dash line the mode of operationthereof.

The washer head it) of the device of the invention is illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 4 in the assembled relationship of its two elasticallydeformable components 12, 14,

which are molded of natural or synthetic rubber, a suitably fiexibleplastic composition or the like. Members 12, 14- define a relativelylarge volume chamber which, in the reciprocating compression anddecompression of head it insures a desiredly long duration of vacuum tocontrol the inflow and outflow of air and water in the priming andwashing phases of the operating cycle of the device, as will 'bedescribed.

The uppermost head member 12 is circularly shaped in a belled outline atan annular, generally conical wall 15 of rather steep slope. Thisprevents the clothing from hanging up on the top of head it? in thewashing operation. The apex of wall 15 is axially thickened to provide aboss 16, which is provided with an internal helical thread 17 tightlyreceiving a correspondingly threaded end of a wooden dowel-likeoperating rod or handle 18. The latter is of a length, say, of about2l"-24".

Upper bell member 12 is integrally molded to provide an annular seriesof internal ribs 26, which afford a desired degree of stiffening toassist the wall 15 in reflexing to its normal and original outline(shown in so id line in FIG. 4) from an axially compressed and deformedshape suggested in dot-dash line.

It will also be noted that the interior of bell member 12 is quitesteeply domed at 20. This space retains some volume of air within thehead 16 to provide an air pocket cushioning of the downward stroke ofthe head throughout the washing cycle.

The second component 14 of the head 10 is molded in an upwardlyopening,cupped and circular outline; and the members 12, 14 have equal thicknessfaces at planar lower and upper extremities, respectively, thereof, atwhich they are bonded, adhered or otherwise associated in liquid tightconnection to one another at a meeting plane 22.

This annular zone is of a diameter of, say, 6"6 /2"; and the overallaxial dimension of head 10 may be approximately "5 /2". It is intendedthat the improved washing device be employed in cleansing a limitedamount of clothing or other relative small fabric articles at a time ina soapy water or detergent solution. It is contemplated that a plasticor galvanized bucket, pail or waste basket, designated B, of a commonlyavailable ten to twenty quart capacity, having a height of between 9"and 14", will be employed. FIG. 4 shows the bottom of such a bucket B,clothing C being indicated.

It is desirable that a container of not too great diameter be employed,such as would detract from a desired intensity of water surge action andoccasion a loss of washing efficiency. A few uses of the device willenable the optimum load limit of clothing for a given volume or amountof one sort of washing liquid or another to be readily determined. As inany conventional washing operation, an overcharge of clothing detractsfrom cleaning efliciency, just as over-soapin of the solution may causea suds-clogging condition.

The bottom cup member 14 is formed to provide an enlarged, laterallyprojecting annular flange 24 beneath the plane 22 at which it meets bellmember 12; and beneath this flange the member 14 has an annulardepending wall 25, which curves downwardly radially inwardly to mergeinto a transverse bottom wall portion 26.

Flange. 24, in conjunction with the thickened portion of member 12directly adjoining the same, affords a thickened medial, horizontalcontrol zone for the head ill which insures a relatively stablecollapsing action of the head members 12, 14 oneit'ner side of this zoneon a downward plunger stroke, rather than a flabby and uncontrolledelfect. Flange 2.4 also acts as a stop to prevent the clothing beingwashed from simply slipping up .past wall portion 26, around the sidesof member 12 and onto 7 its top, on a downward stroke of head 10.

The transverse wall portion 26 is provided with a plurality of liquidinflow and outflow openings or ports 27, which come primarily intoaction in the washing phase, followin air purging and liquid priming.These, as best shown in FIG. 2, are of the same circular size and have adiameter or", say, one inch. They are distributed, commencing with acentral such port, in a number of concentric annular series, and theopenings 27 in each of .these series (typically shown as two, but moreor less may be employed) have equal circumferential spacing from oneanother.

In order to improve the effectiveness of the grip of the clothing C ontothe apertured transverse wall 26, and also preserve an effective suctionto draw cleansing liquid through the fabrics, undiminished by side lossof vacuum along the surface of the wall, the latter is provided withintegral annular beads or ribs 23 projecting downwardly and outwardlythereof, in direct surrounding relation to the respective ports 27. Theylocalize, and to a considerable extent seal, the engagement of theclothing C across the ports or openings during the initial liquidpriming and air purging portion of the washing cycle, in which air isprimarily discharged from and liquid drawn into head it) through furtherflushing ports (to be described),

Head 19 also includes a number of air purging and flushing ports,openings or passages 30 of approximately carnor pear-shaped outline,shown as six in number. These are located in equally spacedcircumferential relation to one another, a bit radially outward of theoutermost series of ribbed ports 27, and the shape of ports 30 makesthem extend radially and upwardly into the upwardly concave wall portion25 of head member 14 from the bottom transverse wall portion 2a: of saidmember. Thus, whereas the ribbed liquid inflow and outflow ports orpassage 27 will be engaged and in effect sealed by the clothing at theoutset of washing, with little or no liquid counterflow in the primingand air purging phase of operation, the flushing ports 30 remain atleast partially exposed above the clothing. Thus provision is made 4 foran outflow of air and an infiow of liquid to prime th interior of head15 during the first reciprocatory stroke or so of the head. Naturally,there may be some slight fluid fiow through the rimmed openings 27 inthis initial action, but the non-rimed, pear-shaped openings 30 areessentially responsible for quick air purging and liquid priming. Whenthe plunger head bottoms out against the clothing (dot-dash line in FIG.4) the openings 30 still are sufliciently exposed to the water above theclothing to prevent the setting up of a locked vacuum condition withinhead It In use, with the bucket B orother container charged with anappropriate volume of soapy water or other detergent liquid and a smallamount of clothing, the device is grasped at handle 18 and inserteddownwardly into the bucket. Head Ill contacts the clothing, and as thedownward movementof the head is continued, its Wall portion 26 and theclothing C'are bottomed to the bucket, with the wall portion inapproximately fiat, horizontal position as suggested in dot-dash line inFIG. 4; and

upper bell member 12 of the head collapses downwardly at its originallyconical wall 15 to the position also suggested in dot-dash line.

Thus, up to of the air in the unit is forcibly purged out through theflush ports or openings 30, the rimmed holes 27 being substantiallyblocked by the clothing, so that negligible ai is purged therethrough,as mentioned above. There may of course be some slight blockage of thepriming or flushing ports 39, but sufiicient thereof remains exposed foran adequate desired discharge of air. A slight upward pull on handle 18starts to restore upper bell section E2 to its normal position shown insolid line in FIG, 4, creating a vacuum within head 10, whereupon liquidcommences to flow into and through ports 36. The vacuum is considerablygreater than can be relieved in an instantaneous flooding of the flushports 30 with inflow water, with the result that loose floating parts ofclothing adjacent such flush ports is drawn against the latter, thustending to an external blocking of ports 30. Consequently, a conditionof increased head vacuum arises, which becomes more and more effectivethrough the bottom rimmed or beaded ports 27, and clothing directly heldacross the same. Now, as the upstroke of head 16 is continued to lifthead 16 further from the bucket bottom the combined effect of the upwardpullon the handle and the resilient return spring of the head wall 15-is to maintain the vacuum created in the head. Accordingly, the clothingC continues to be vacuum-held across openings 27, 30. However, theporosity of the clothing weave is such that this vacuum will not be longmaintained. Hence, following release of downward holding pressure andcontinuance to completion of the upward stroke 'of head 1 soapy water ordetergent liquid is sucked through the fabric of the clothing, until apoint is reached at which such water sucked into head It nullifies thevacuum of the latter.

At this point, the clothing C is released by ports 27 and 36 and floatsloosely in the water. Considerable water turbulence, efiective inwashing, is physically occasioned by head 1% in its upward stroke, whichis preferably com pleted when the ports 3%) are still approximately aninch below the surface of the water, so that captive water is retainedin head 19. Should. the ports be above the water line, such captivewater is released and replaced by outside air, which calls for therenewal of the priming air purging and liquid priming of the head uponfurther downward and upward stroke or strokes.

However, assuming that head It remains liquid-primed, downward strokesthereof cause the liquid to be discharged under force through ports 27and 30 and the fabric adjoining the same, with intervening upstrokesproducing the reverse or counterflow of the liquid mentioned above.

It is seen that the invention affords a very simple, compact andmanually operable clothes Washing device for use on special ocassions,when conventional washing means is not available, or its useunjustifiable. The operation is performed readily and in a very briefinterval of time, without requiring the application of undue energy; andsuccessive, individually small charges of clothing, amounting in grossto a considerable volume, may be thoroughly and expeditiously cleansedin a relatively small overall period of time.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A clothes washing device, comprising a hollow bulbous and elasticallydeformable washer head adapted to have successive axial washing strokesimparted thereto under which the head is elastically deformed, returningtoward original form between strokes, a wall of said head having aplurality of openings therethrough for the inflow and outflow of fluidin a generally axial direction as such strokes are imparted, said headwall having externally protuberant annular bead formations surroundingthe respective wall openings.

2. A clothes washing device, comprising a hollow bulbous and elasticallydeformable washer head adapted to have successive axial washing strokesimparted thereto under which the head is elastically deformed, returningtoward original form between strokes, a wall of said head having aplurality of openings therethrough for the inflow and outflow of fluidin a generally axial direction as such strokes are imparted, and furtheropenings whose outline extends at least in part into the side of thehead for a more lateral fluid outflow and inflow, said head Wall havingexternally protuberant annular bead formations surrounding therespective first named wall openings.

3. A clothes washing device, comprising a hollow bulbous and elasticallydeformable washer head adapted to have successive axial washing strokesimparted thereto under which the head is elastically deformed, returningtoward original form between strokes, a wall of said head having aplurality of openings therethrough for the inflow and outflow of fluidin a generally axial direction as such strokes are imparted, and furtheropenings whose outline extends at least in part into the side of thehead for a more lateral fluid outflow and inflow, said head wall havingexternally protuberant annular bead formations surrounding therespective first named wall openings and said further openings beingfree of such bead formations.

4. A clothes washing device, comprising a hollow bulbous and elasticallydeformable washer head adapted to have successive axial washing strokesimparted thereto under which the head is elastically deformed, returningtoward original form between strokes, a wall of said head having aplurality of openings therethrough for the inflow and outflow of fluidin a generally axial direction as such strokes are imparted, and furtheropenings whose outline extends at least in part into the side of thehead for a more lateral fluid outflow and inflow, said head wall havingexternally protuberant annular bead formations surrounding therespective first named wall openings and said further openings beingfree of such bead formations, the remainder of said head beingsubstantially imperforate.

5. A clothes washing device, comprising a hollow bulbous and elasticallydeformable washer head having means for imparting successive axialwashing strokes thereto under which the head is elastically deformed,

returning toward original form between strokes, a wall of said headremote from said stroke imparting means having a plurality of openingstherethrough for the inflow and outflow of fluid in a generally axialdirection as such strokes are imparted, and further openings whoseoutline extends at least in part into the side of the head for a morelateral fluid outflow and inflow, said head wall having externallyprotuberant annular bead formations surrounding the respective firstnamed wall openings and said further openings being free of such bead.

formations, the remainder of said head adjoining said stroke impartingmeans being substantially imperforate.

6. A clothes washing device, comprising a hollow bulbous and elasticallydeformable washer head having means for imparting successive axialwashing strokes thereto under which the head is elastically cleformed,

returning toward original form between strokes, an upper wall of saidhead being of conical cross-section connecting downwardly to anotherwall of said head remote from said stroke imparting means having aplurality of openings therethrough for the inflow and outflow of fluidin a generally axial direction assuch strokes are imparted, said otherwall being of substantial extent in a direction generally parallelingthat of said strokes, said wall of conical cross-section beingreinforced by an internal formation to afford additional resistance toelastic deformation.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6, in which said head has anannular outwardly projecting flange facing from said upper head wall inthe direction axially away from said stroke imparting means.

8. A device in accordance with claim 5, in which said washer head isformed adjacent said stroke imparting means in a generally conical wallformation tapering toward said means, which formation is reinforced toafford additional resistance to elastic deformation.

9. A device in accordance with claim 5, in which said washer head isformed adjacent said stroke imparting means in a generally conical wallformation tapering.

toward said means, which formation is reinforced to afford additionalresistance to elastic deformation, said head having an annular outwardlyprojecting flange facing from said wall formation in the directionaxially away from said stroke imparting means.

16. A device in accordance with claim 4, in which said head wall isthickened in a zone between said imperforate remainded thereof and saidfurther openings to control the action of said washer head in itselastic deformation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,184,838 5/1916 Edwards 68 -2152,237,984 4/1941 Frame et a1. 68219 X FOREIGN PATENTS 184,154 12/1955Austria. 989,819 5/1951 France. 1,146,596 5/1957 France.

779,590 7/ 1957 Great Britain.

79,652 2/1934 Sweden.

IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner,

